Moon Phases Moon Phases – Half of the moon is always illuminated by the sun. The moon phases are caused because only part of the illuminated portion of the moon is visible from the earth during a lunar cycle.
New moon – This phase occurs when the moon is between the sun and the earth. No part of the moon is visible from the earth.
1st quarter – One quarter of the moon is visible. The moon appears as a half circle in the shape of a “D”. The visible portion of the moon is Developing. We say the moon is waxing. You can remember this if you think of wax build up. The moon is visible from the earth from around noon until midnight.
Full moon – This phase occurs when the moon is on the opposite side of the earth from the earth. The entire illuminated half of the moon is visible from the earth. The moon appears as a circle. This phase is visible from around sunset until sunrise.
Last quarter (or 3rd quarter) - One quarter of the moon is visible. The moon appears as a half circle in the shape of a “C”. The visible portion of the moon is Collapsing. We say the moon is waning. The moon is visible from the earth from around midnight until noon.
Crescent – One-fourth of the illuminated portion of the moon is visible from the earth. Waxing crescent is between a new moon and 1st quarter. Waning crescent is between the 3rd quarter and new moon. The moon appears as a “C”.
Gibbous – Three-fourths of the illuminated portion of the moon is visible from the earth. Waxing gibbous is between a 1st quarter and full moon. Waning crescent is between the full moon and 3rd quarter.
Use this link to see a depiction of the phases of moon and the relative position of the moon, earth, and sun: Animated Moon Phases
Use this link to find out what the moon looks like today:The Moon Today
Click on the button to take a quiz about moon phases.
Tides: The moon and earth are constantly pulling at each other. The Earth is able to counter the gravitational pull of the moon on everything except for the ocean. The ocean is constantly moving, which allows the gravitational pull of the moon to create the tides.
Moon Phases – Half of the moon is always illuminated by the sun. The moon phases are caused because only part of the illuminated portion of the moon is visible from the earth during a lunar cycle.
New moon – This phase occurs when the moon is between the sun and the earth. No part of the moon is visible from the earth.
1st quarter – One quarter of the moon is visible. The moon appears as a half circle in the shape of a “D”. The visible portion of the moon is Developing. We say the moon is waxing. You can remember this if you think of wax build up. The moon is visible from the earth from around noon until midnight.
Full moon – This phase occurs when the moon is on the opposite side of the earth from the earth. The entire illuminated half of the moon is visible from the earth. The moon appears as a circle. This phase is visible from around sunset until sunrise.
Last quarter (or 3rd quarter) - One quarter of the moon is visible. The moon appears as a half circle in the shape of a “C”. The visible portion of the moon is Collapsing. We say the moon is waning. The moon is visible from the earth from around midnight until noon.
Crescent – One-fourth of the illuminated portion of the moon is visible from the earth. Waxing crescent is between a new moon and 1st quarter. Waning crescent is between the 3rd quarter and new moon. The moon appears as a “C”.
Gibbous – Three-fourths of the illuminated portion of the moon is visible from the earth. Waxing gibbous is between a 1st quarter and full moon. Waning crescent is between the full moon and 3rd quarter.
Use this link to see a depiction of the phases of moon and the relative position of the moon, earth, and sun:
Animated Moon Phases
Use this link to find out what the moon looks like today: The Moon Today
Click on the button to take a quiz about moon phases.
Moon Phases Quiz.html
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Tides: The moon and earth are constantly pulling at each other. The Earth is able to counter the gravitational pull of the moon on everything except for the ocean. The ocean is constantly moving, which allows the gravitational pull of the moon to create the tides.
These are some great lessons for students who require more of a challenge. http://insideaml.us.mensa.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home&CONTENTID=14210&TEMPLATE=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm
Here's a Bill Nye clip (~7 minutes) Bill Nye the Science Guy
Here are some short primary friendly videos about the moon:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aFGNGEcDOk&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aFGNGEcDOk&feature=related
Here is a moon phase calculator to check out. Find the moons current phase
I have added some experiments you cold do with your students: copy this link (By Lisa Kaufman)
http://www.learner.org/teacherslab/pup/act_moonphase.html
http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/scienceopticsu/solar/index.html
http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/StarChild.html (great video for younger students)